JP2007330706A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reliable endoscope which can favorably maintain its functions by surely sticking its components affected by loading with each other even when repeatedly autoclaved. <P>SOLUTION: A pulley 91 rotates according to a rotational manipulation of a manipulation knob installed on a manipulation part of the endoscope. Two traction wires 92 (92a and 92b) are respectively wrapped around the pulley 91. Each of the traction wires 92a and 92b is connected to manipulation wires 93a and 93b which keeps one end installed in a flexible tube 2 of an insertion part and in curve part 4 respectively through joints 94a and 94b, and the other end is fixed to the pulley 91. Such connections between each of the traction wires 92a and 92b and the pulley 91 and connection between each of the traction wires 92a and 92b and manipulation wires 93a and 93b and the joints 94a and 94b are respectively fixed by an epoxy-based adhesive with a hardener glass transition temperature of 140°C or higher. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope.

In recent years, endoscopes are used for examination and diagnosis in the medical field.
In the endoscopy, it is necessary to insert the insertion portion of the endoscope to a deep part of a body cavity such as the stomach, duodenum, small intestine or large intestine.

  Such an endoscope has an insertion portion that is inserted into a body cavity, and an operation portion that is installed on the proximal end side of the insertion portion and performs a bending operation on the distal end portion of the insertion portion.

  Of these, the insertion portion is inserted into a bent body cavity, and a flexible tube (flexible tube for an endoscope) having flexibility and a bending operation at the distal end side of the flexible tube so as to follow the inserted body cavity. And a curved portion.

  Various members responsible for various functions of the endoscope are provided inside the flexible tube constituting the insertion portion and the bending portion. And each of these members is being fixed with the adhesive agent.

  By the way, such a medical endoscope is contaminated with living tissue, blood, pathogenic bacteria, and the like when inserted into a body cavity and used. For this reason, the endoscope is subjected to cleaning, disinfection, sterilization, and the like after the inspection / processing is completed. As the sterilization treatment of the endoscope, high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization can be considered.

  However, when sterilization with such high temperature is performed on an endoscope, thermal stress due to thermal expansion of each member is generated on each member in the flexible tube as the temperature rises and falls. It becomes.

  On the other hand, when the sterilization treatment is repeated, the adhesive is deteriorated and deteriorated by heat, so that the adhesiveness of the adhesive is lowered or the mechanical strength of the adhesive itself is lowered. When a tensile load or a compressive load is applied to the adhesive in such a state, the fixing of the member by the adhesive is released, and the function of the endoscope may be deteriorated or the endoscope may be broken. .

  In order to solve such a problem, Patent Document 1 describes the generation of the stress described above by selecting an adhesive in consideration of the coefficient of thermal expansion of a member to be bonded with an adhesive (a member to be bonded). An endoscope that can be suppressed is disclosed.

  However, in such an endoscope, since it is necessary to select an adhesive in consideration of the coefficient of thermal expansion, the range of selection of the adhesive is significantly limited. For this reason, there is a possibility that an adhesive having low characteristics important for an endoscope adhesive such as heat resistance and degassing ability may be used. That is, no matter how the thermal expansion coefficient is optimized and the generation of thermal stress is suppressed, the adhesive having poor heat resistance is insufficient in durability against repeated high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization treatment.

  In particular, in recent years, sterilization treatment at higher temperatures has been recommended, and further improvement in the heat resistance of the adhesive is required.

JP 2000-162508 A

  The object of the present invention is that even when high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization is repeatedly performed, the endoscope parts to which the load acts are securely bonded with an adhesive, and the reliability that can maintain the function of the endoscope well. It is to provide an endoscope with high height.

Such an object is achieved by the present inventions (1) to (11) below.
(1) An endoscope having a portion where a tensile load or a compressive load acts and the endoscope parts are fixed with an adhesive,
The adhesive is an epoxy adhesive having a glass transition temperature of the cured product of 140 ° C. or higher, and the fixed state of the portion is maintained when the endoscope is subjected to high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization. Endoscope characterized by being able to.

  As a result, even when high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization is repeatedly performed, the endoscope parts to which the load acts are securely bonded to each other with an adhesive, and a highly reliable inner body that can maintain the function of the endoscope well. A scope is obtained.

  (2) The endoscope according to (1), wherein the epoxy adhesive is configured with a bisphenol A type epoxy resin material as a main component.

  Since this epoxy resin material has a relatively low viscosity of the uncured product, there is an advantage that it can be easily supplied to the bonding part of the endoscope part without any gap. Further, by adding other epoxy resin materials, it is possible to easily add the characteristics of other epoxy resin materials while maintaining the above-described advantages. Thereby, it is excellent in the handling at the time of the supply operation | work of an adhesive agent, and an adhesive agent with a glass transition temperature of 140 degreeC or more can be obtained easily.

  (3) The endoscope according to (2), wherein the cured product of the adhesive has a Shore D hardness of 70 to 90.

  Epoxy adhesives with a hardness within the above range are relatively hard and prevent the endoscope parts from being released even if they are slightly softened during high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization. Can do. Thereby, it can prevent reliably that the function of an endoscope falls or an endoscope breaks down.

  (4) The endoscope according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the adhesive has a shrinkage rate of 0.1 to 5% when the uncured product is cured.

  An epoxy adhesive having a shrinkage rate within the above range when the uncured adhesive is cured has a very small shrinkage rate, and therefore reduces the residual stress generated in the bonded portion due to the shrinkage during curing. be able to. For this reason, the stress generated with the tensile load or compressive load applied to the adhesive and the thermal stress generated with the high-temperature high-pressure steam sterilization treatment are reduced, and the adhesive breaks or peels off at the adhesive interface. Can be reliably prevented.

(5) The endoscope has a bendable elongated insertion portion that is inserted into a lumen, and an operation portion connected to the insertion portion.
The endoscope component includes a pulley provided in the operation portion, an operation wire disposed in the insertion portion, one end fixed to the pulley with the adhesive, and the other end to one end of the operation wire. The endoscope according to any one of (1) to (4), further including a pulling wire fixed with the adhesive.

  Thereby, the fixed state of the location which fixed the pulley and the operation wire, and the fixed state of the location which fixed the pulley, the pulling wire, and the operation wire can be maintained reliably.

  (6) End portions of the pulling wire and the operation wire are butted together, and a tubular body is attached so as to cover the butted portion, and the tubular body is filled with the adhesive. The endoscope according to (5), which is fixed by the above.

  Thereby, the expansion of the outer diameter of the fixed part can be prevented, and the fixed state can be reliably maintained while maintaining the advantage that the fixing work is easy.

(7) The endoscope includes a bendable elongated insertion portion that is inserted into a lumen, an operation portion connected to the insertion portion, and an end of the insertion portion opposite to the operation portion. And a tip provided in the part,
The endoscope component includes the distal end portion and a long object provided along the insertion portion and having one end fixed to the distal end portion with the adhesive. The endoscope according to any one of the above.

  Due to the heat applied in the high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization process, a long object is likely to thermally expand greatly in the longitudinal direction, and a large stress is generated in a place fixed with an adhesive. The fixed state can be reliably maintained.

(8) The tip portion further includes a cylindrical body provided with a hole portion into which an end portion of the long object can be fitted,
The endoscope according to (7), wherein the long object has an optical fiber bundle fixed by filling the hole in the cylindrical body with the adhesive.

  Thereby, the fixed state of the said cylinder and the said optical fiber bundle can be maintained reliably and favorably.

(9) The tip portion further includes an image sensor that images the subject,
The long object has a signal line that is electrically connected to the imaging device and fixed by covering the connection portion with the adhesive. (7) or (8) Endoscope.

  Thereby, the fixed state of the image sensor and the signal line can be reliably and satisfactorily maintained.

(10) The tip portion further includes a tip steel material provided with a hole portion into which an end portion of the long object can be fitted,
The long object covers the outer periphery of the core material of the insertion portion, and has an outer skin fixed by filling the hole in the tip steel material with the adhesive (7) to (9) The endoscope according to any one of the above.

  Thereby, the fixed state of the said tip steel material and the said outer skin can be maintained reliably and favorably.

  (11) The above-described (5) to (10), wherein the tensile load or the compressive load applied to the portion is increased in a state where the insertion portion is curved, as compared with a case where the insertion portion is in a natural state. The endoscope according to any one of the above.

  Thereby, even if a larger tensile load or compressive load is applied to the connection part than in the natural state, the fixed state of the connection part can be reliably and satisfactorily maintained.

  According to the present invention, since the glass transition temperature of the cured product of the epoxy adhesive that fixes the endoscope parts to each other is 140 ° C. or higher, the high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization process performed on the lower temperature side than the glass transition temperature. Even if it is exposed, the cured product of the adhesive can reliably maintain the original adhesive performance. Thereby, the endoscope parts are fixed to each other with the adhesive, and the adhesive part is prevented from being softened and the adhesive performance is deteriorated even in a place where a tensile load or a compressive load is applied. It is possible to prevent the fixed state from being damaged. As a result, it is possible to obtain a highly reliable endoscope that can reliably prevent the function from being deteriorated or broken.

Hereinafter, an endoscope of the present invention is explained in detail based on a suitable embodiment shown in an accompanying drawing.
FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an embodiment in which the endoscope of the present invention is applied to an electronic endoscope (electronic scope), and FIG. 2 schematically shows the internal configuration of the electronic endoscope shown in FIG. FIG. 3 and FIG. 3 are diagrams schematically showing the internal configuration of the operation unit provided in the electronic endoscope shown in FIG. In the following description, the upper side in FIGS. 1 to 3 is referred to as a “base end”, and the lower side is referred to as a “tip”.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic endoscope 1 includes a long insertion portion flexible tube 2 having flexibility (flexibility) and a bending portion 4 provided on the distal end side of the insertion portion flexible tube 2. And an operation unit 6 connected to the proximal end portion of the insertion portion flexible tube 2 and operated by the operator to operate the entire electronic endoscope 1, and a connection portion flexible tube 7 connected to the operation unit 6 And a light source insertion portion 8 connected to the distal end portion of the connecting portion flexible tube 7.

  Of these parts of the endoscope, the insertion portion flexible tube 2 and the bending portion 4 constitute an insertion portion that is inserted into a lumen of a living body, for example. For example, a long object (not shown) such as an optical fiber, an electric cable, a cable, or tubes is disposed and inserted in the insertion portion flexible tube 2 and the bending portion 4 (hollow portion).

  The insertion portion flexible tube 2 and the connection portion flexible tube 7 are each composed of a flexible tube for an endoscope in which the outer periphery of a tubular core member having a hollow portion is covered with an outer skin. The outer skin of the endoscope flexible tube or the like is made of, for example, an elastic material such as various rubber materials, a synthetic resin material, or the like.

  The bending portion 4 is generally composed of a plurality of (many) node rings that are rotatably connected to each other, a mesh tube coated on the outer periphery of the node ring, and a skin coated on the outer periphery of the mesh tube. And bendable. The outer skin (curved rubber) of the curved portion 4 is made of a flexible elastic material such as various rubber materials.

  A hard part (tip part) 5 is connected to the tip of the bending part 4. The rigid part 5 is composed of a cylindrical block body (rigid part main body).

  An imaging device (CCD) (not shown) that captures a subject image at an observation site is provided inside the rigid portion 5, and the imaging device is provided in the insertion portion flexible tube 2, the operation portion 6, and the connection portion. An image signal cable (not shown) continuously disposed in the flexible tube 7 is connected to an image signal connector 82 provided in the light source insertion portion 8.

  Although it does not specifically limit as a constituent material of the hard part 5, For example, stainless steel, aluminum or an aluminum alloy, titanium, or a titanium alloy etc. are mentioned.

  A light source connector 81 and an image signal connector 82 are provided at the front end of the light source insertion portion 8, and the light source connector 81 and the image signal connector 82 are inserted into a connection portion of a light source processor device (not shown). By doing so, the light source insertion part 8 is connected to a light source processor apparatus. A monitor device (not shown) is connected to the light source processor device via a cable.

  The light emitted from the light source processor device is continuously arranged in the light source connector 81, the light source insertion portion 8, the connection portion flexible tube 7, the operation portion 6 and the insertion portion flexible tube 2. The light passes through a light guide (not shown), and the observation site is irradiated from the tip of the rigid portion 5 to illuminate. Such a light guide is configured by bundling a plurality of optical fibers made of, for example, quartz, multicomponent glass, plastic, or the like.

  The reflected light (subject image) from the observation site illuminated by the illumination light is imaged by the imaging element. The image sensor outputs an image signal corresponding to the captured subject image. This image signal is transmitted to the light source insertion portion 8 via the image signal cable.

  Then, predetermined processing (for example, signal processing, image processing, etc.) is performed in the light source insertion unit 8 and the light source processor device, and then input to the monitor device. In the monitor device, an image (electronic image) captured by the image sensor, that is, an endoscope monitor image of a moving image is displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 6 includes a first operation knob 61, a second operation knob 62, a first lock lever 63, and a second lock lever 64 that are independently rotatable.

  When the operation knobs 61 and 62 are rotated, a bending operation wire (not shown) disposed in the insertion portion flexible tube 2 is pulled, and the bending portion 4 is bent in four directions. You can change the direction.

  Further, when the lock levers 63 and 64 are rotated counterclockwise, the bending state (the bending state in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction) of the bending portion 4 can be fixed (held), respectively. When the rotation operation is performed, the bending portion 4 fixed in the bent state can be released.

  In addition, a pulley that rotates with the operation of the first operation knob 61 and the second operation knob 62 is provided inside the operation unit 6.

  2 and 3 show the pulley 91 that rotates in accordance with the operation of the first operation knob 61 among the pulleys.

  Two pulling wires 92 (92a, 92b) are wound around the pulley 91 shown in FIGS. One end of each of the pulling wires 92a and 92b is fixed to the pulley 91, and the other end is inside the insertion portion flexible tube 2 and the bending portion 4 via the tubular connection portions (tube bodies) 94a and 94b. Are fixed to the operation wires 93a, 93b.

  At this time, the other end of each pulling wire 92a, 92b and one end of each operation wire 93a, 93b fixed to this other end are in a state of abutting inside each connecting portion (tube body) 94a, 94b. ing. Then, the connecting portions 94a and 94b are mounted so as to cover the butted portions, and further, the respective connecting portions 94a and 94b are filled with an adhesive, whereby the pulling wires 92a and 92b and the operation wires 93a and 93b are filled. And are fixed.

  Further, the tips of the operation wires 93 a and 93 b are fixed to the rigid portion 5. In addition, in the insertion part flexible tube 2 and the bending part 4, the guide tube which guides each operation wire 93a, 93b is abbreviate | omitting illustration.

  When the first operation knob 61 is rotated in a predetermined direction, the pulley 91 rotates, for example, clockwise in FIGS. 2 and 3. By the rotation of the pulley 91, the left pulling wire 92 a is wound around the pulley 91, and the right pulling wire 92 b is sent out from the pulley 91.

  As a result, the operation wire 93a connected to the pulling wire 92a moves in the proximal direction, while the operation wire 93b connected to the pulling wire 92b moves in the distal direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the bending portion 4 is bent so that the rigid portion 5 faces the left side.

  Thus, by the operation of the first operation knob 61, the bending portion 4 is bent in two directions, and the bending direction and the bending degree can be remotely operated.

  Similarly to the first operation knob 61, the bending portion 4 is bent in two directions orthogonal to the bending direction by the first operation knob 61 by the operation of the second operation knob 62. The degree can be remotely controlled.

  In the present embodiment, between each of the pulling wires 92a and 92b and the pulley 91 described above, and between each of the pulling wires 92a and 92b and each of the operation wires 93a and 93b and the connecting portions (tubing bodies) 94a and 94b, As described above, it is fixed with an adhesive.

  By the way, the endoscope of the present invention is premised on performing a high-temperature high-pressure steam sterilization process such as an autoclave sterilization process. For this reason, for example, the adhesive that fixes the endoscope parts to each other like the adhesive that fixes the pulling wires 92a and 92b and the pulley 91 is naturally durable enough to the high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization treatment. (For example, heat resistance).

  Here, since the conventional endoscope is not premised on performing high-temperature processing by such high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization processing, it is considered that the heat resistance of the adhesive for fixing the endoscope parts to each other is considered. There wasn't. For this reason, in conventional endoscopes using such adhesives, every time high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization is performed, the adhesive will be deteriorated and deteriorated by heat, resulting in a decrease in adhesive adhesion and adhesion. The mechanical strength of the agent itself was reduced. In addition, when a tensile load or a compressive load is applied to the adhesive in such a state, the fixing state of the endoscope parts by the adhesive is impaired, and the function of the endoscope is deteriorated or the endoscope is broken. I was invited.

  Therefore, the present inventor conducted extensive studies on the physical properties of the adhesive, and using an epoxy adhesive having a cured product having a glass transition temperature of 140 ° C. or higher as an adhesive for fixing endoscope parts to each other at high temperature and high pressure. Even if it is exposed to steam sterilization treatment, even when a load is applied, it can be found that an endoscope can be reliably fixed with an adhesive, and an endoscope capable of maintaining its function well can be obtained. The present invention has been completed.

  The resin material having a glass transition temperature is in a hard glass state at a lower temperature side than the glass transition temperature, and is in a soft rubber state at a higher temperature side than the glass transition temperature.

  That is, since the adhesive used for the endoscope of the present invention has a glass transition temperature of the cured product of 140 ° C. or higher, it is usually lower than the glass transition temperature (for example, the temperature is about 100 to 140 ° C.). Even if it is exposed to the high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization process performed in step 1, the cured product of the adhesive can maintain a hard glass state and maintain the original adhesive performance. For this reason, it is possible to reliably prevent the adhesive from being softened and the fixing state of the part where the endoscope parts are being fixed from being damaged, the function of the endoscope is deteriorated, or the endoscope is broken. It is possible to reliably prevent this.

  In addition, the adhesive used in the endoscope of the present invention is an epoxy adhesive, but this epoxy adhesive is particularly excellent in adhesiveness and heat resistance, so even when a load is applied under high temperature, Endoscope parts can be fixed more reliably. Further, the cured product of the epoxy adhesive is not easily softened even at a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature, and can retain its shape. For this reason, the endoscope using the epoxy adhesive has sufficient durability against the high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization treatment.

  Therefore, the location for fixing between the aforementioned pulling wires 92a, 92b and the pulley 91, and the location for fixing between the pulling wires 92a, 92b and the operation wires 93a, 93b and the connecting portions 94a, 94b, By fixing using the above-described epoxy adhesive, the fixed state can be reliably maintained even at locations where a tensile load or a compressive load is always applied, such as these locations.

  In addition, for example, at the places where the pulling wires 92a and 92b and the operation wires 93a and 93b are fixed between the connecting portions 94a and 94b, the ends of the wires are abutted and fixed, so that they are fixed. Although the outer diameter of the part can be prevented from being enlarged and the fixing work is easy, the structure is such that the load applied to the adhesive tends to be particularly large. By using the above-mentioned epoxy adhesive in such a place, the fixed state can be reliably maintained while maintaining the above-described advantages.

  The adhesive used for the endoscope of the present invention may be an epoxy adhesive whose cured product has a glass transition temperature of 140 ° C. or higher, and preferably has a glass transition temperature of 145 ° C. or higher. More preferably, it is 150 ° C. or higher. Epoxy adhesives having such a glass transition temperature have particularly sufficient heat resistance against high temperatures during high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization treatment. Therefore, high-temperature and high-pressure can be applied to endoscopes using such epoxy adhesives. Even if the steam sterilization process is repeated, the function of the endoscope can be maintained particularly well.

  Here, the epoxy-based adhesive is an adhesive configured with an epoxy-based resin material as a main material.

  Examples of the epoxy resin material include bisphenol A type, brominated bisphenol A type, hydrogenated bisphenol A type, bisphenol F type, biphenyl type, naphthalene type, phenol novolac type, orthocresol novolak type, bisphenol A novolak type, Glycidyl ether type epoxy resin such as trishydroxymethane type, glycidyl ester type epoxy resin such as hexahydrophthalic anhydride type, tetrahydrophthalic anhydride type, dimer acid type, tetraglycidyl diaminodiphenylmethane, triglycidyl isocyanurate, aminophenol type And various epoxy resin materials such as glycidylamine type epoxy resin such as aniline type, and one or more of them can be used in combination.

  Among these, the adhesive used in the present invention is preferably composed mainly of a bisphenol A type epoxy resin material. Since this epoxy resin material has a relatively low viscosity of the uncured product, there is an advantage that it can be easily supplied to the bonding part of the endoscope part without any gap. Further, by adding other epoxy resin materials, it is possible to easily add the characteristics of other epoxy resin materials while maintaining the above-described advantages. Thereby, it is excellent in the handling at the time of the supply operation | work of an adhesive agent, and an adhesive agent with a glass transition temperature of 140 degreeC or more can be obtained easily.

Furthermore, since the cost is relatively low, the cost of the endoscope can be reduced.
Further, such an adhesive preferably has a cured product having a Shore D hardness of about 70 to 90, more preferably about 75 to 85. Epoxy adhesives with a hardness within the above range are relatively hard and prevent the endoscope parts from being released even if they are slightly softened during high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization. Can do. Thereby, it can prevent reliably that the function of an endoscope falls or an endoscope breaks down.

  Moreover, the adhesive used for the endoscope of the present invention has a mass reduction rate of 1% or less due to loss of volatile components when the outgas is measured for the cured product by the method prescribed in ASTM E595. It is preferable that it is 0.5% or less. In general, in high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization treatment, the surroundings of the object to be treated are decompressed before the object to be treated is exposed to high-temperature and high-pressure steam. However, as the pressure decreases, the volatile components in the adhesive are likely to volatilize, and the volatilized components may adhere to the endoscope parts, causing problems such as deterioration of the captured image of the endoscope. . However, if the mass reduction rate of the adhesive is within the above range, it is possible to sufficiently suppress or prevent the above-described volatile components from volatilizing and adhering to the endoscope part. Thereby, deterioration of the captured image of the endoscope can be surely prevented.

  Further, the adhesive used for the endoscope of the present invention has a shrinkage ratio when the uncured material is cured, that is, a ratio of a volume contracted when the uncured material is cured to a volume of the uncured material is 0 About 1 to 5% is preferable, and about 0.1 to 3% is more preferable. Since the epoxy adhesive having the shrinkage rate within the above range has a very small shrinkage rate, it is possible to reduce the residual stress generated in the bonded portion due to the shrinkage at the time of curing. For this reason, the stress generated with the tensile load or compressive load applied to the adhesive and the thermal stress generated with the high-temperature high-pressure steam sterilization treatment are reduced, and the adhesive breaks or peels off at the adhesive interface. Can be reliably prevented.

  FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the rigid portion provided in the electronic endoscope shown in FIG. In the following description, the left side in FIG. 4 is referred to as “tip”, and the right side is referred to as “base end”.

  As described above, a long object such as an optical fiber, an electric cable (signal line), a cable, or piping is disposed and inserted in the rigid portion shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, the internal configuration of the hard part will be described in detail.
The rigid portion 5 shown in FIG. 4 is disposed at a pair of optical fiber bundles (light guides) 51 and 51 disposed along the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion flexible tube 2 and at the distal ends of the optical fiber bundles 51 and 51. And a pair of plano-concave lenses 52, 52.

  In this embodiment, each optical fiber bundle (long object) 51, 51 is formed by bundling a plurality of optical fibers (optical components) 511, and these optical fibers 511 are bonded and fixed with an adhesive. Yes.

  Further, the vicinity of the tip of the optical fiber bundle 51 is inserted (inserted) into a through hole 46 provided in a base (cylinder) 45, and the optical fiber bundle 51 is filled by filling the through hole 46 with an adhesive. The front end of the base and the base (cylinder) 45 are bonded and fixed. The base (tubular body) 45 is inserted into the hole 53 in the rigid portion main body 50 together with the optical fiber bundle 51 and is disposed in the vicinity of the plano-concave lens 52.

  In the present embodiment, the pair of optical fiber bundles 51 and 51 are arranged symmetrically with the imaging means 54 as the center. As a result, it is possible to illuminate the observation region without unevenness and to capture an image with good image quality.

  The imaging means 54 includes an objective lens system 541 and an imaging element (CCD image sensor) 542 installed on the proximal end side of the objective lens system 541, and these include a hole 55 formed in the hard part 5. It is installed inside. In addition, a long signal line (long object) 543 disposed along the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion flexible tube 2 is electrically connected to the imaging element 542. Then, by covering this connecting portion with an adhesive, the image sensor 542 and the signal line 543 are securely bonded and fixed.

  Moreover, the front-end | tip of piping (elongate thing) which is not shown in figure is connected to the hole (not shown) of the rigid part main body 50, for example. In addition, a suction means is connected to the other end of the pipe, whereby body fluid, blood, etc. in the body cavity can be sucked through the pipe. Further, by connecting a liquid supply means such as a pump to the other end of the pipe, it is possible to supply a cleaning liquid, a chemical liquid, or the like into the body cavity via the pipe. The rigid part main body 50 and the pipe are also securely bonded and fixed with an adhesive.

  FIG. 5 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view illustrating another configuration example of the rigid portion included in the electronic endoscope illustrated in FIG. 1. In the following description, the left side in FIG. 5 is referred to as “tip” and the right side is referred to as “base end”.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the distal end portion of the outer skin (long object) 42 of the bending portion 4 is connected to the proximal end portion of the rigid portion main body 50 of the rigid portion 5.

  Moreover, the tip steel material 59 is covered on the outer surface of the hard part 5 so that these connection parts may be covered. That is, the outer skin 42 is inserted (inserted) into the through hole of the tip steel material 59. Then, by filling the inside of the tip steel material 59 with the adhesive 60, the rigid portion main body 50, the outer skin 42 and the tip steel material 59 are bonded and fixed, respectively.

  Such optical fiber bundles 51, signal lines 543, pipes, and the ends of long objects such as the outer skin 42 of the bending portion 4 are respectively a part of the rigid portion 5, that is, the respective internal endoscopes incorporated in the rigid portion 5. Connected to mirror parts.

  In the present embodiment, the gap between the long object and the hard part 5 is fixed with an epoxy adhesive having a glass transition temperature of 140 ° C. or higher. In this way, the elongated endoscope component provided along the insertion portion flexible tube 2 and the bending portion 4 and the rigid portion 5 provided at the distal end of the bending portion 4 are fixed with an adhesive. If the endoscope is subjected to high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization in a state where it is in a fixed state, there is a risk that the fixed state may be impaired due to deterioration or deterioration of the adhesive. The fixed state can be reliably and satisfactorily maintained. In addition, due to the heat applied in the high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization treatment, a long object is likely to expand greatly in the longitudinal direction, or to heat shrink greatly during cooling, and a large stress is generated at the place fixed with the adhesive. However, according to this invention, even if this stress generate | occur | produces, the fixed state of the said location can be maintained reliably.

  Moreover, when performing a high temperature / high pressure steam sterilization process, a to-be-processed object is normally accommodated in a box-shaped processing tank. At this time, although depending on the size of the processing tank, usually, the endoscope cannot be housed in the processing tank in the natural state (the straight extension state) of the insertion portion flexible tube 2. Therefore, when the electronic endoscope 1 is stored in the processing tank, the long insertion portion flexible tube 2 and the connection portion flexible tube 7 are stored in a curved state. In such a curved state, the connection portions of the pulling wires 92a and 92b and the operation wires 93a and 93b and the connection portion of the rigid portion 5 and the long object are more than in the natural state. Further, a large tensile load (or compressive load) is continuously applied.

  Under such a situation where the tensile load (or compressive load) is increasing, there is a risk that the fixed state of the connection portion may be difficult to be maintained due to alteration / deterioration due to heat of the adhesive. The fixed state of the connecting portion can be reliably and satisfactorily maintained.

  That is, by applying an epoxy-based adhesive characterized by the glass transition temperature as described above to an adhesive for an endoscope that is exposed to such a harsh environment, the endoscope of the present invention has a high temperature. It has particularly excellent durability against high-pressure steam sterilization.

  Although the endoscope of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration of each member (each part) can be replaced with any one having the same function.

  In the above embodiment, the electronic endoscope has been described. However, it is needless to say that the endoscope of the present invention can be applied to an optical endoscope, and is not limited to medical use. It can also be applied to an endoscope used for (industrial use).

  In addition, the epoxy adhesive having the characteristics of the glass transition temperature as described above may be applied to all of the portions where the connection parts of the endoscope parts are fixed with the adhesive, but this application is It may be for some parts.

Next, specific examples of the present invention will be described.
1. Manufacture of an electronic endoscope Ten electronic endoscopes shown in FIG. 1 were manufactured in each example and each comparative example as follows.

Example 1
An electronic endoscope as shown in FIG. 1 (Pentax soft endoscope FB-29X) was manufactured.

  In addition, as each adhesive between each traction wire and pulley, between each traction wire and each operation wire and the connecting portion, and between each long object and the rigid portion (tip portion), An adhesive having the following characteristics was used.

<Adhesive properties>
・ Main material: Bisphenol A type epoxy resin material (Cemedine Co., Ltd., E
P160)
Glass transition temperature: 140 ° C
・ Shore D hardness: 85
・ Shrinkage during curing: 1%

(Example 2)
An electronic endoscope was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that an adhesive having the following characteristics was used in place of the adhesive in Example 1.

<Adhesive properties>
・ Main material: Bisphenol A type epoxy resin material (manufactured by Three Bond Co., Ltd.)
2088E)
Glass transition temperature: 155 ° C
・ Shore D hardness: 80
・ Shrinkage during curing: 1%

(Comparative example)
An electronic endoscope was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that an adhesive having the following characteristics was used instead of the adhesive of Example.

<Adhesive properties>
・ Main material: Bisphenol F type epoxy resin material (Cemedine Co., Ltd., E
P582)
・ Glass transition temperature: 125 ℃
・ Shore D hardness: 91
・ Shrinkage during curing: 1%

2. Evaluation of Electronic Endoscope The functional evaluation of the endoscope was performed by repeatedly performing sterilization treatment under high temperature with an autoclave for each of the ten electronic endoscopes of each example and comparative example. The conditions for sterilization are shown below.

・ Conditions for sterilization Temperature: 130 ° C
Time: 10 minutes Processing cycle: 100 times As a result, the electronic endoscope of each example had a good function even after sterilization. In particular, the tendency was remarkable in the electronic endoscope of Example 2.

  On the other hand, in the electronic endoscope of the comparative example, some of the ten endoscopes were impaired in function.

1 is an overall view showing an embodiment when an endoscope of the present invention is applied to an electronic endoscope (electronic scope). It is a figure which shows typically the internal structure of the electronic endoscope shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the internal structure of the operation part with which the electronic endoscope shown in FIG. 1 is provided. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows one structural example of the rigid part with which the electronic endoscope shown in FIG. 1 is provided. It is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-section which shows the other structural example of the hard part with which the electronic endoscope shown in FIG. 1 is provided.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic endoscope 2 Insertion part flexible tube 4 Bending part 42 Outer skin 45 Base 46 Through-hole 5 Hard part 50 Hard part main body 51 Optical fiber bundle 511 Optical fiber 52 Plano-concave lens 53 Hole part 54 Imaging means 541 Objective lens system 542 Imaging element 543 Signal line 55 Hole portion 59 Tip steel material 60 Adhesive 6 Operation portion 61 First operation knob 62 Second operation knob 63 First lock lever 64 Second lock lever 7 Connection portion Flexible tube 8 Light source insertion portion 91 Pulley 92, 92a , 92b Pulling wire 93a, 93b Operation wire 94a, 94b Connecting portion 81 Light source connector 82 Image signal connector

Claims (11)

An endoscope having a place where a tensile load or a compressive load acts and the endoscope parts are fixed with an adhesive,
The adhesive is an epoxy adhesive having a glass transition temperature of the cured product of 140 ° C. or higher, and the fixed state of the portion is maintained when the endoscope is subjected to high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilization. Endoscope characterized by being able to.   The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the epoxy adhesive is composed mainly of a bisphenol A type epoxy resin material.   The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the cured product of the adhesive has a Shore D hardness of 70 to 90.   The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the adhesive has a shrinkage rate of 0.1 to 5% when an uncured product is cured. The endoscope has a bendable elongated insertion portion that is inserted into a lumen, and an operation portion connected to the insertion portion,
The endoscope component includes a pulley provided in the operation portion, an operation wire disposed in the insertion portion, one end fixed to the pulley with the adhesive, and the other end to one end of the operation wire. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a pulling wire fixed by the adhesive.   The pulling wire and the operation wire are abutted with each other, and a tubular body is attached so as to cover the abutting portion, and the tubular body is fixed by filling with the adhesive. The endoscope according to claim 5. The endoscope is provided at a bendable elongated insertion portion to be inserted into a lumen, an operation portion connected to the insertion portion, and an end portion of the insertion portion opposite to the operation portion. And a tip portion formed,
The endoscope part according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the endoscope component includes the distal end portion and a long object that is provided along the insertion portion and has one end fixed to the distal end portion with the adhesive. The endoscope according to Crab. The tip portion further includes a cylindrical body provided with a hole portion into which an end portion of the elongated object can be fitted,
The endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the elongated object has an optical fiber bundle fixed by filling the hole in the cylindrical body with the adhesive. The tip portion further has an image sensor for imaging a subject,
The endoscope according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the long object has a signal line that is electrically connected to the image sensor and is fixed by covering the connection portion with the adhesive. . The tip portion further includes a tip steel material provided with a hole portion into which an end portion of the long object can be inserted,
The long object has an outer skin that covers an outer periphery of a core material of the insertion portion and is fixed by filling the hole in the tip steel material with the adhesive. The endoscope according to Crab. The tensile load or the compressive load applied to the location is increased in a state in which the insertion portion is curved, as compared with a case in which the insertion portion is in a natural state. Endoscope.

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